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When Roger Daltrey blew through Chicago on his current solo tour, he said he was just trying to keep his pipes practiced for upcoming projects by The Who -- and one of those projects might be a Super Bowl XLIV halftime performance in January.

Internet rumors are hot today claiming that The Who will be the latest classic rock band (translation: safe booking in a post-Janet Jackson world) taking over the gridiron during the big pro football hootenanny.

Just rumors at this point, nothing confirmed -- except an unnamed source at Sports Illustrated. The official NFL statement, according to the NYPost, is, "When we have something to announce, we'll announce it."

They also note that since the game is on CBS, it certainly makes sense to book The Who. The band's songs are used as themes all three "CSI" franchises on the network: "Who Are You" ("CSI"), "Baba O'Riley" ("CSI: NY") and "Won't Get Fooled Again" ("CSI: Miami").

Recent Super Bowl halftime performers have been Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, the Rolling Stones, U2, Paul McCartney and Prince.

Kanye West is dead. Long live Kanye West.

Or so some Twitter prankster would have you believe.

Early today, Twitter became abuzz with rumors that Chicago's most notorious rapper had passed on. The phrase "RIP Kanye West" began reproducing in tweets throughout the service, becoming a trending topic that's still No. 1 on the site as of this post.

West is, however, still alive and kicking. As The Daily Swarm put it in its round-up of news reports about this, he continues to not be dead.

How the "rumor" began remains unclear. But we're looking at you, Taylor Swift.

UPDATE: Two reports on how the hoax began -- first, Idolator traces it back to a phony Fox News page posted with a giant Kanye obit; or, Daily Swarm tags it to these meatheads.

The moral of the story: It's ridiculously easy to start rumoriffic mayhem. We propose some new hashtag heard-its ... #mileymising, #Tribuneshutdown, #daleyretires. Your suggestions?

Kanye West is not gonna let Spike Jonze's short film, "We were once a fairytale," finish.

Just one day after the odd 10-minute opus was released, Chicagoan West pulled the joint from his own site without warning or explanation. The film shows a drunken rapper exorcising his demons as normal people look on.

Sounds familiar for some reason.

The beleaguered rapper debuted the clip on his Web site Monday before removing it. In it, West is shown acting drunk and obnoxious, and at the end of it, he stabs himself with a sword and pulls what appears to be a little mouselike demon out of his stomach. He then gives the demon a sword, and it stabs itself.

A rep for Jonze says the video was made within the past year. West's publicist did not respond to an Associated Press e-mail seeking comment.

Here's a Thanksgiving deal you won't want to miss: One day, two turkeys!

That's right, after your feast with grandma and the whole clan, head out to the House of Blues for a concert by convicted domestic abuser Chris Brown.

Brown is launching a 19-city "fan appreciation" tour "to acknowledge and thank his fans for their ongoing support," according to a press release. The Chicago date: Nov. 26, Thanksgiving night.

Granted, it's a cheap ticket for an intimate venue: $37.50 general admission, $42 day of show. Tickets go on sale here this Friday. Part of the proceeds also benefit Best Buddies International, a nonprofit supporting for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In related news, Rihanna -- the girlfriend Brown smacked around earlier this year, for which he was sentenced to probation -- is also forging ahead with her music career, scheduling the relase of her next album, "Rated R," on Nov. 23.

The first single, "Russian Roulette," written and produced by Ne-Yo, debuted today on her Web site.

The single cover was revealed today, too, and it's ... hoo-boy! ... it's this:

Death, it turns out, is anything but dignified for Michael Jackson.

His family continues to squabble over the estate. The label is marketing his work, using his death as a profit engine. His brain was held in deep freeze as his death investigation continues.

And now this ... his singed hair from the infamous 1984 Pepsi commercial fire accident is up for sale.

According to the London Sun newspaper, Ralph Cohen, the executive producer of the commercial, saved the hairs in his coat, which he had used to try to put the flames on Jackson's head out. Now the dozen singed hairs are going on the block in an auction expected to bring in a whopping $1,500.

Of course, that price also includes Cohen's harrowing tale of the day:

"And then, as Michael on his cue, was supposed to come down the stairs the explosion went off and the first thing I noticed was - he was about half way down the stairs - and I noticed flame emanating from his hair.

"And it took me a moment to register what exactly was happening because there was so much lights and so many different things go on sic] it was a little confusing but I noticed his hair was on fire and I immediately rushed out from my position.

"I pulled my jacket off as I was running and proceeded to, when I reached him, put it over his head."

Richard Davie from International Autograph Auctions is selling them at the Edwardian Radisson Hotel at Heathrow, London, on October 17.

The hairs are said to be worth about twice as much as when Jackson was alive. The video flameout is pointed to by many Jackson watchers as the beginning of the end for the King of Pop. After suffering second degree burns, he became hooked on pain killers, live-in doctors and bad advice until the time of his death by cardiac arrest this summer.

That, if it were the end of the story, would be enough to cover the weird quotient for the day. But when it comes to Michael Jackson, there's always more.

The Arlington Heights, IL., company, LifeGem, already has plans for about 100 more of Jackson's burned hairs - making them into diamonds. Dean Van den Biesen, one of the company's co-founders, says the 7- to 9-month process to make diamonds from Jackson's fried locks is underway.

"We have the Armani suit jacket, the locks of hair, the documentation. Everything," Van den Biesen said Tuesday.

How many diamonds does 100 hairs get you? About three by the time the carbon purification process the company advertises is complete. As to who gets those diamonds when they're done, plans are still being developed.

You'll just have to make due with the King's latest single - or is it his single? - for your Jackson fix in the meantime. Or, there's always the other King's hair auction, if you really must go that route.

Famed Chicago Sun-Times Page 1 Editor James Smith has been on Oprah. He's posterized President Obama. He's even hung out with Muhammad Ali.

But it's his musical taste that sets him apart.

In this first installment of what will be an occasional series, we take a look at what he's rocking on his iPhone, the radio, TV or, in this case, YouTube.

Today's choice: "'65 Love Affair," the classic Paul Davis epic that marked his departure from garbagey country ballads to garbagey pop.

Enjoy, we know you will be rocking the white man overbite before you know it!

Vimeo member Eric Spiegelman put together this slightly eerie montage of President Obama doing the grip-and-grin line from a recent meeting at the United Nations with foreign dignitaries. Spiegelman grabbed the images from the State Department's Flickr site and 20 seconds later you have this impressive proof that Obama has a very consistent smile.

On Wednesday, the Obamas hosted a reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, during which they stood for 130 photographs with visiting foreign dignitaries in town for the UN meeting. The President has exactly the same smile in every single shot.

So there you go. Who needs a cutout when the real thing works this well?

Hat tip to Chicagoist for digging this up on a quiet Friday.

To stoke the fires for next month's big-screen release of "This Is It" -- the feature film compilation of footage from Michael Jackson's final tour rehearsals -- Sony has slipped out a snippet of footage.

It's not quite a minute of Michael, running through the blocking for the song "Human Nature" from his hit "Thriller" album.

Check it out -- he was still in fine voice ...

"This Is It" is a rushed-together documentary of the preparations for Jackson's comeback shows, originally scheduled for July in London. Jackson died in June. The movie, culled from rehearsal footage (we posted some of that earlier), will stand as the final document of Jackson's massive musical career.

Then again, there might be more shows to come, since he's allegedly still alive.

An Australian Web site is reporting today that Charlie Watts, the genteel drummer for the Rolling Stones, has quit the band:

A source within the Stones inner-circle says, "Charlie Watts has quit the band. He will never record or tour with the band again."

The news does not come as a surprise. It was common knowledge that Keith Richards had to talk Charlie into contributing to the A Bigger Bang tour but this time it seems there is no calling Charlie back to active duty.

"The Stones are looking to Keith's Expensive Winos drummer Charlie Drayton to fill the void in all future Stones' callings," our source says.

The band's spokesperson, however, denies the report, telling Entertainment Weekly: "Contrary to a fabricated story that ran this morning. Charlie Watts has not left The Rolling Stones.''

Watts, 68, has been behind the kit for Mick and Keef since January 1963. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2004, which has since gone into remission.

Watts has been reluctant to take part in the band's activities for a while. He had to be dragged back -- after a long conversation with Keith Richards, apparently -- for the A Bigger Bang tour that roamed the globe as the top-grossing concert from 2005 to 2007.

If it were true, who should replace him as the band lumbers toward its (gulp) 50th anniversary?

Snow Leopard is out and we have to wait nine days for the next Apple announcement - a tablet, a new iPod, a netbook? - so what can we do to pass the time?

How 'bout some stalking of the ex? Not since the advent of ">Google Maps has keeping ceaseless track of the people who have no interest in you been easier. Of course there's an app for that.

Of course, it's all a big joke. No stalking people, kids. Save your time - and court fees - and buy some self-help books instead.

Liam, left, and Noel Gallagher in happier times.

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher says he's leaving the British pop band because he can't work "a day longer" with his brother Liam.

A statement from Gallagher on the band's Web site says he's leaving the group "with some sadness and great relief."

"It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.

"Apologies to all the people who bought tickets for the shows in Paris, Konstanz and Milan."

The band were due to play a festival in Paris Friday but didn't take the stage. A message flashed to the crowd said "as a result of an altercation within the band, the Oasis gig has been canceled."

For his part, Liam doesn't sound all that broken up about it, according to an interview last week in ContactMusic:

"He doesn't like me and I don't like him, that's it. He hasn't told me what he thinks of anything this year. We've got nothing to say to each other at the moment.

"The only time I see him is onstage and we're a little bit busy (at) that time to be fucking scratching each other."

The brothers have a rich history of violent arguments with eachother, and have taken to various platforms, including Twitter, lately to make their mutual loathing know.

Gallagher's statement sends "apologies to all the people who bought tickets" for the band's remaining shows in France, Italy, and Germany.

Oasis was one of the biggest British bands of the 1990s, with hits like "Wonderwall" and "Champagne Supernova."

It's a week full of weird Bob Dylan news. First, he announces he's recorded a Christmas record, "Christmas in the Heart." ('Cause when you think of Christmas, you think of Dylan, right?)

Now comes news -- well, he actually mentioned this on his radio show a while back -- that he's negotiating with two different car companies to be the voice of their in-dash GPS.

According to Spinner:

The 68-year-old gave listeners of his Theme Time Radio Hour on BBC 6 Music on Monday a sneak preview of what the Dylan-accented GPS might sound like. "Left at the next street," he said. "No, right. You know what? Just go straight. I probably shouldn't do it because whichever way I go, I always end up at one place -- on Lonely Avenue. Luckily I'm not totally alone. Ray Charles beat me there."

We can hear it now ...

"You're positively on 4th street."

"How many roads must this car drive down before you realize you're lost?!"

It takes a little work to get past the haughty "we're gonna make you cool" attitude behind this CBS Sunday Morning report on Wilco, but once you do, it's a nice look at some of alt Chicago's favorite sons.

Keeping in mind the average age of a Sunday Morning viewer is ancient, the "gee whiz" tone is somewhat understandable, and under that layer is Jeff Tweedy chatting about how Chicago factors into his life and how the band has almost defied the ability to become a huge draw.

But, as Tweedy points out at the end of the piece, this band has survived 20 years of turmoil, lineup changes and various other issues, making it that much more impressive that they're still banging around - and getting bigger, by their standards.

Yes, it is yet another pandering report on something from Chicago by a coastal media outlet, but there's no denying the world outside Chicago and the New York club and college town scenes is picking up the scruffy guys after years of toil.

Can't take the whole thing? Forward to the 7:45 mark for the flaming strings of a world record.

This has been around a little bit, but it's definitely worth a look for anybody who thinks they know how to crunch a guitar riff.

Watch the whole thing and two truths will clarify in your mind: 1) Flight of the Bumble Bee is an evil song that you never want to hear again and B) at 320 beats per minute and with the tune still clearly heard to that damn song, this guy incredible at what he does.

This guy is Thiago Della Vega, by far the fastest guitar player in the world. Seriously. The Brazilian, of whom there is not a lot of other information, has the Guinness World Record to prove it - though there is a controversy about whether he owns the record and should have played, no lie, Dueling Banjos to be official.

And, yes, the debate rages about whether he's a real guitar player. The fretheads give him his due as a quick picker, but whether that in and of itself counts as guitar playing? Well, who am I to judge. Check it out and make up your own mind.

But when prog metal meets Flight of the Bumble Bee, well, what can you really say?

Sometimes, you just have to let go. Case in point: Nora the Piano Cat.

If you live on Earth and suck air for life, you've likely seen or heard the musical feline, Nora, pawing out her work on the piano. Several gillion people saw the original video on YouTube and her second effort clocked in at 4.5 million served.

In all, nearly 20 million people have watched Nora play. She has made the television talk show circuit and has videos, two books, her own Web site, a blog, three calendars, mugs, greeting cards, T-shirts and posters under her belt.

Not content to sit around rolling in catnip, though, Nora mewed 'em over in Lithuania as the main accompaniment of conductor Mindaugas Piecaitis' first composition, featuring Nora's solo video performance in what he called his CATcerto.

but how does a serious musical performer decide that what they've really been missing all these years is to play with a cat? Piečaitis talked to the newspaper Klaipeda about his purring muse:

"I was enchanted by her abilities and started some further research. I reviewed everything I could find on the Internet and it just intrigued me more," remembered Piečaitis.

"I wrote down all of Nora`s improvisations in music (notes), happily remembering my time at the M.K.Čiurlionis art school, when we used to write musical dictations. It never crossed my mind that some time in my life, my teacher could ever be a cat."

OK. So, Mr. Conductor, what does this do to your credibility? Do the other conductors make fun of the man who woul take second fiddle to a cat?

"Not at all. The work for this piece was just as serious for me as for any other one. Although at first glance it would appear that it is just a joke, - in this musical piece I also see a somewhat deeper significance. Through it, I wanted to remind people how unique and unexpected the world around us could be."

Well, there's that. There's also the fact that while Piečaitis is the musician, Nora is what puts the butts in seats. Bringing the question: How does a cat become a world-famous virtuoso? It's not like we're talking Toonces, here.

More on the primeow donna after the jump ...